Arch supporting shoe



Mar ch 7, 193 L. w. BROWN ETAL 2,149,664

ARCH SUPPORTING SHOE Filed Feb. 25, 1957 z I 8 K o o o T awe/m5 9 ffermarvTl Voaof Patented Mar. 7, 1939 Wires srarns ARCH SUPPORTING SHOE Lloyd W. Brown, Rochester, N. Y., and Herman T. Wood, Camp Hill,Pa.

Application February 23, 1937, Serial No. 127,268

1 Claim.

This invention relates to an arch supporting shoe of the type shown in our U. S. Patent No. 1,894,939, dated January 24, 1933.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a low cut shoe with a simple and efficient arch support which embodies a flexible non-metallic arch supporting element adapted to efiectively support the arch'and rock the foot outwardly, and which includes novel means to adjust the arch supporting element to suit the wearer.

The present invention consists in the particular form, combination and arrangement of parts accompanying drawing and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a side elevational view of an arch supporting shoe embodying the present invention, looking at the outer side of the shoe.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure l, partly broken away and in section, to more clearly reveal details of construction.

Figure 3 is an enlarged plan view of the arch supporting element per se, partly broken away; and

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken on line 4 l of Figure 1.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the shoe proper is of the low cut type embodying an outer 3O sole 5, an inner sole 6, a heel I, a vamp 8, an outer quarter 9, and an inner quarter 9, said quarters respectively having closure wings II] and I0 provided with the usual eyelets or perforations I I and II for the reception of a lace so that the over the instep of the wearers foot for securing the shoe upon the foot in the usual well known manner.

In accordance with the present invention, we 40 provide an arch supporting element in the form of a band I2 which is positioned upon the inside of the shoe so as to extend across the insole under the arch of the foot, one end of said band being secured between the outer edge of the inner sole and the upper as at I3. The band l2, after extending across the insole, extends upwardly along the inner side of the foot at the inner side of the inner quarter 9', after which it slidably extends outwardly through an elongated slot I4 provided in the closure wing ID of the inner quarter 9' adjacent the upper corner of said wing III. This outwardly extending end portion of the band I2 is in the nature of a narrow strap member I5 of substantially uniform width throughout and pro- 55 vided with a longitudinal series of openings I 6 hereinafter more fully described, shown in the closure wings IE and M may be secured together for a purpose which will presently become apparent. Attached to the outside of the upper corner portion of the closure wing III on the outer quarter 9 is a short strap II carrying a buckle I8. The strap member l5 of the arch supporting element or band, after extending outwardly through the slot I 4 is passed across the instep of the wearer's foot and engaged with the buckle I8. Due to the series of openings Hi, the strap member I5 may be adjustably connected to buckle l8, so that the portion of the band [2 passing under the arch of the foot and upwardly along the inner side of the foot may be pulled upwardly and secured to raise and support the arch of the foot, as well as to simultaneously rock the foot outwardly to its proper normal position. By slidably extending the strap member I5 outwardly through the slot I4, and then passing it across the instep for connection with the buckle I8, ready and efiicient adjustment of the arch supporting band is had without causing any discom fort to the wearer, the portion of the strap member l5 extending across the instep being disposed outside the shoe or extending across the outer surfaces of the wing portions l0 and ID. This is also far more satisfactory and efiicient than prior constructions involving connection of the band I2 to the top of the inner quarter, or extension of the band through the outer quarter without any engagement or connection with the inner quarter.

The present invention provides a simple and inexpensive arch support for low cut shoes which is eflicient in use, and which may be used with extreme comfort.

It will be noted that the band I2 has a narrow end I 9 which is attached at l3 between the outer edge of the inner sole 6 and the upper. Also, the intermediate portion of band I2 is of increased width and composed of two layers of material between which is disposed a pad 20 arranged and adapted to cause the band I2 to properly fit the foot at the inner side of the arch. This portion of band I2 and pad 20 are perforated as at 2| for ventilation.

What we claim as new is:

A low cut arch supporting shoe comprising a sole and heel, a vamp, inner and outer quarters having closure wings adapted to extend and be secured across the instep, the closure wing of the inner quarter being provided at the top with aslot, a strap attached to the outside of the closure wing of the outer quarter and carrying a buckle, and an arch supporting band secured at one end at the outer edge of the inner sole, said band 7 extending across and above the shank within the tending across the shank and upwardly along the inner quarter being of relatively increased width and formed of two layers, and a pad secured between said layers and shaped to cause the adjacent portion of the band to fit the foot at the inner side of the arch.

LLOYD W. BROWN. HERMAN T. WOOD. 

